As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:9
The leaves are falling all around us. When I open up my back door to let the dog out at night, I can smell the rich aroma of burning leaves and fallen branches. The image of friends gathered around a fire pit - laughing and enjoying each others' company - wafts through my mind with that simple scent and I am reminded how much we need each other.
From the middle of spring through to the middle of fall, trees are filled with vibrant green leaves. These leaves provide relief from the rage of the summer heat and shelter for the weaker plants hiding in their long shadow. But, as summer turns to autumn, leaves begin to loose the nourishment they once found in the branches of the tree and they pull away from the tree - falling to the ground in a vast array of beautiful color. We ooh and aah at the color, but as much as I enjoy seeing the fall colors arrive I am always a touch melancholy at their arrival. Winter is on its way.
As the leaves change color they are dying. They are loosing the one thing that gave them strength and vibrancy. They are loosing the one thing which made them a force against the raging heat of summer and the storms of night. They are loosing there connection to their tree.
The same thing happens to us when we stop seeking the Father and His love in our lives. When we think we have enough of God's love to sustain us for the "long haul" and we turn away from studying His Word, spending time with His children, and we choose to be in-this world rather than in with the King. We loose our nourishment - our life blood - when we step outside of the circle of God's grace and his purpose.
Jesus commanded us to remain in his love. He commanded us to stay connected to the tree of life - to stay connected to the King. The leaves are only strong against the storms of life and the raging heat of summer when they are lush with the nourishment the tree provides. But as the seasons change those same leaves cannot maintain their strength against the storms as they are easily blown to the ground to wither and die.
Jesus warns us that the same thing will happen to us if we choose to sever ourselves from the life giving strength of the King - He is the vine - we are the branches - and the only way we will produce fruit is to remain connected to Him. The only way our lives will be strong and withstand the storms and the heat we will face is to be in with the King. We are not self-sustained creatures. We are like the leaves of the trees. We need nourishment from the tree. Without Him we will surely wither under the heat this world offers.
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